Poll curious but probably unrelated. Crohn's and Light Pollution

[InstantCoffee]

I've been looking at some studies and my own lifestyle and got me thinking about something.

There may be a link between IBS / IBD and hormonal levels, including serotonin levels.

Serotonin levels cycle based on light exposure. There's been studies done at rats, increasing darkness cycles does little to effect serotonin cycles, but increasing light exposure negatively impacts serotonin / melatonin balances.

We also have a thread discussing Crohn's worsening at night.

We see Crohn's is more prevalent in developed nations, obviously diet and medications are likely a factor, but there's another thing we see more common in developed nations:

Light pollution and erratic sleep schedules (3rd shift jobs and such) where you'd be sleeping during day light.

So I'm curious if during your life / crohn's flares you've had a history of:
A) Erratic sleep schedule e.g. sleeping during daylight hours, being awake at night
B) High amount of light pollution (living in the city / bedroom by a street light etc.)
C) Low amount of light pollution (sleeping with a nightlight on)
D) No light pollution and healthy sleep schedule.

 

[1sickpuppy]

That is an interesting theory. I have UC, diagnosed last fall, and I've spent the last 12 years living in a major metro city with loads of light pollution. I also had jobs (film production and catering) with erratic and shift work type schedules. I don't know about causing IBD but sleep issues definitely cause my symptoms to worsen.

 

[FrozenGirl]

I would say most of the time I had low to no light pollution. I know I don't sleep enough but my sleep schedule is only a little erratic in that I sometimes (less now) work both evening (2-10pm) shifts and day ((7-3) shifts, not terrible but it means I can never get to bed before 11pm.

I don't think it is related a lot but it could be one of many factors that if you have the genetic propensity for it could be a trigger

 

[shamrock15]

I have been a firm believer in the link between sleep and crohns for about 7 years, thanks to the birth of my daughter! The lack of sleep had me quite ill until she did us the courtesy of sleeping through the night, at which point almost all symptoms disappeared. I am a light sleeper though, and easily awakened by almost any sound. Lately I have tried using magnesium and melatonin. They help, but magnesium can also cause diarrhea - a big issue for me and my water retention issues.

 

[mf15]

You may find this of interest.
Old Mike
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1378665/

history fluorescents started around 1904
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lamp

here is a short history of IBD
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/7/175.asp

If you are really interested here is an old thread of mine.
http://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2629872

 

[InstantCoffee]

You may find this of interest.
Old Mike
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1378665/

history fluorescents started around 1904
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lamp

here is a short history of IBD
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/7/175.asp

If you are really interested here is an old thread of mine.
http://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2629872

Interesting stuff.

I can't do melatonin, I tried it as a sleep aid and it leaves me groggy all next day.

I've been reading a lot about different part of crohn's that currently I can't find any obvious interconnection between.

-There's the hormonal part, involving serotonin production / cycles and other hormone mechanisms I don't fully understand yet.

-There's the bile acids / salts problem (poor reabsorbption / conversion of secondary bile acids in the ileum).

-There's the fact that the OCTN markers linked to Crohn's are related to poor l-carnitine transport.

-Then there's the pathogens / dysbiosis which could be a byproduct of the other factors, or causative.

It's so hard to figure what's the chicken and what's the egg.

 

[mf15]

IC:There is a lot more going on with Crohn's, much perhaps is down stream of causative
events, so makes it difficult for the doc's and us to figure it all out.
Here is something else going on,defective oxidative bursts.
I am UC centric but keep tabs as to what is going on with crohn's.
Old Mike
This is rather old,but there is newer info
http://gut.bmj.com/content/25/8/849.full.pdf

here is a newer one
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20936355

newer yet seems some conflicting info
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25809337

 

[Cali01]

I live in an urban area with a ton of light pollution. Moved here about 8 years ago, moved to a super noisy and bright area about 5 years ago.....developed Crohn's while pregnant with my second child, about 2 years ago

 

[DEmberton]

When I first had symptoms I was living in the countryside where it was properly black and quiet at night.

Some light never bothered me, but the light mornings in summer definitely do. I recently bought some "blackout" curtains; it suddenly occurred to me a couple of weeks ago having woken up again at 5.30am. Don't know why I didn't think of it before, but I've now more or less been sleeping until my alarm wakes me up at 7.15, and that makes me feel generally much better. (Sunrise was 4:46am this morning - and that's just stupid ;-) ).

 

[UnXmas]

I live in the middle of nowhere and sleep at night, not much light.